gátol

Gátol is a Hungarian verb meaning to hinder, block, or dam up. It can describe both physical blocking, such as damming a river or sealing a passage, and figurative hindrance, such as obstructing progress, delaying actions, or preventing events. The sense implies the creation of a barrier that reduces or stops movement or flow, rather than merely delaying it.

Etymology and usage notes: The verb derives from the noun gát, meaning dam or barrier, with the -ol suffix forming a transitive verb. Gátol is a standard, widely used term in both everyday speech and formal writing. It has several close synonyms, including akadályoz, megakadályoz, and meggátol. The nuances differ: akadályoz tends to be a broad term for hindering; megakadályoz and meggátol emphasize preventing an outcome entirely or stopping something from happening.

Grammar and forms: Gátol is transitive and takes a direct object in the accusative when used in active constructions. Present indicative forms include én gátolok, te gátolsz, ő gátol; past forms include én gátoltam, te gátoltál, ő gátolt. Passive and participial forms exist, such as gátolt (blocked, obstructed) and gátolva (being blocked, obstructed). In usage, it commonly appears with concrete or abstract objects, for example describing a blockade of traffic or a policy that hinders progress.

See also: gát (dam), akadály, akadályozás, megakadályozás.